Apparatus for stringing and tensioning plural strands of fence wire



July 23, 1963 s. DE FOREST 3,098,624

S. APPARATUS FOR STRINGING AND TENSIONING PLURAL STRANDS OF FENCE WIREFiled Feb. 8, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. SHERWOOD 5. MI @557ATTORNEY July 23, 1963 s. 5. DE FOREST 3,093,624

APPARATUS FOR STRINGING AND TENSIONING PLURAL STRANDS OF FENCE WIREFiled Feb. 8, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. SHERWOOD 5. 051 02557-ATTOQ/VEV July 23, 1963 s. s. DE FOREST 3,093,

APPARATUS FOR STRINGING AND TENSIONING PLURAL STRANDS OF FENCE WIRE AFiled Feb. 8, 1961 v 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 mean 00a .s. 05 F0957 Mfi w I INVEN TOR.

July 23, 1963 s 5. DE FOREST 3,098,624

APPARATUS FOR STRINGING AND TENSIONING PLURAL. STRANDS OF FENCE WIREFiled Feb. 8, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

SHERWOOD 5. 051 02557" 47' 7 ORA/E Y July 23, 1963 s 5. DE FOREST3,098,624

APPARATUS FR STRINGING AND TENSIONING PLURAL STRANDS OF FENCE WIRE FiledFeb. 8, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INV EN TOR. JHAFQWOOD 6. Q5 FOP57 BY WATTORNEY of fence posts.

This invention relates to wire fence of the type that is formed ofplural strands of fence wire strung along a line As indicated, itrelates more particularly to an apparatus for simultaneously stringingplural strands of fence wire under the tension required for fastening tothe fence posts.

The apparatus of this invention, more specifically, comprises aplurality of dispensing reels for coils of fence wire, such as barbedwire and the like, from which the strands are dispensed in being strungalong a line of fence posts, and a tensioning mechanism that operates toresist the dispensing movement of the strands from said reels and thusplace them under tension. The fence Wire dispensing reels are mounted ona tractor-drawn carriage in such manner that the strands of wire arepulled therefrom as the carriage is drawn forwardly along a line offence posts. The tensioning mechanism, in a manner to be described,comprises a frictional braking unit also mounted on the carriage thatincludes a plurality of tensioning discs, which through separatemechanical drives are rotated at speeds corresponding to the rates atwhich the fence wire strands are being strung and which have theirrotation subject to a retarding torque that is applied by frictionalbrake elements. The tensioning discs thus place each of the fence wirestrands being strung under a tension that is determined by thefrictional braking torque resisting their rotation. Since the tensioningmechanism places each of the strands under equal tension, the verticalspacing between adjacent strands is maintained uniform and the strandsare thus strung in parallel positions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the fence erecting machine towhich the apparatus of this invention relates and forms a part thereof;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view of the machine shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view looking from the right of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged elevational view taken in a direction lookingfrom the left of FIGURE 2 which-shows the plural wire strand stringingand tensioning apparatus of this'invention;

FIGURE 5 is an end elevational view of a portion of the apparatus shownin FIGURE 4 taken in a direction looking from the right thereof;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged elevational view of one of the fence wire stranddispensing reels of this invention;

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view of the braking unit shown in FIGURE 1which illustrates the manner in which it is mounted on a supportingframe therefor; and

FIGURE 8 is an exploded view showing the parts of the braking unit shownin FIGURE 7, in which portions of such parts are broken away and shownin section.

The apparatus of this invention forms part of a fence building machinethat has as its principal purpose the reduction of manual labor requiredfor erecting farm and highway fencing. Such machine, as diagrammaticallyshown in FIGURE 1, comprises a carriage 1 that is pulled forwardly alonga line of fence posts 2 by a tractor 3, the carriage being connectedwith the tractor by a conventional three-point hitch in a manner to bedescribed. A

vertical reel 4 for dispensing woven wire fencing from a coil thereonand a tensioning clamp 5, which form the subject matter of copendingapplication Serial No. 83,706, filed January 19, 1961, and to whichreference is made for a more detailed explanation and showing thereof,are mounted on the carriage 1 together with the dispensing mechanism 6of this invention. In operation, the dispensing mechanism 6 and verticalreel 4 operate to string fence wire, designated diagrammatically by thebroken line 7, along the line of fence posts 2 as the carriage 1 ispulled forwardly by the tractor 3. After being placed under tension, thewire 7 is fastened to the fence posts 2. A fence post driver 8, themounting of which forms the subject matter of copending applicationSerial No. 86,422, filed February 1, 1961, at the forward end of thecarriage 1 is operated to install fence posts 2 at spaced intervalsalong the fence line. As indicated, this invention is directed to themechanism 6, which in a manner to be described operates to string pluralstrands of fence wire under tension along the fence posts 2.

As shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the carriage 1 comprises a pair oflaterally spaced platforms 9 and 10 that have pivotal connections 11 attheir forward ends to a draft bar 12. The connection of the draft bar 12with the tractor 3 comprises a conventional three-point tractor hitchwhich includes a pair of lift links 13 and a stabilizing link 14 (FIGURE3). The lift links 13 are pivotally connected to lugs 15 on the draftbar 12, and the stabilizing link 14 has a pivotal connection 16 to theupper end of a frame 17 that is mounted on the draft bar 12. Whenattached to a tractor, the links 13 and 14 furnish a support for theforward end of the carriage 1 which is supported at its other end forrolling movement over the ground by casters 18 at the trailing ends ofeach of the platforms 9 and 10. When disconnected from the tractor, theforward end of the carriage 1 is supported by detachable casters 19which have upwardly extending stems 20 that are removably secured inbrackets 21 secured to the draft bar 12.

The fence post driver 8 has a central location on the draft bar 12 andis arranged in the space 22 between the platforms 9 and 10. The platform9 furnishes a support for both the vertical reel 4 and the tensioningclamp 5 mentioned above, and the dispensing mechanism 6 of thisinvention, which comprises a plurality of horizontal reels 24 that areadapted to dispense plural strands of fence wire, such as barbed wire,from coils supported thereon. The fence wire 7, with reference to FIGURE1, is attached to one of the fence posts 2 and is dispensed from thereels 4 or 24 upon forward movement of the carriage 1 along a line offence posts by the tractor 3. As described in the above mentionedcopending application Serial No. 83,706, woven fence wire 7 beingdispensed from the vertical reel 4 travels through a vertical passbetween tensioning clamping elements 25 and 26 that form part of thetensioning clamp 5 and are operated into clamping engagement with thefence wire 7 so that subsequent forward movement of carriage 1 willoperate to apply tension to the wire 7 prior to its being fastened tothe posts 2 along which it has been strung. The horizontal reels 24 inaccordance with the present invention are provided with chain andsprocket drives to a tensioning unit 27 that operates to apply tensionto plural strands of fence wire being dispensed from the reels 24independently of the tensioning clamp 6.

The platform It? in operation furnishes a support for carrying aplurality of fence posts and, for this purpose, has vertically extendingmembers 28 and 29 at opposite ends thereof between which the ends of thefence posts 2 are received to hold them in position on the platform 10.In addition, the platform It} furnishes a stand for a workman operatingthe machine.

Since the fence post driver 8 is conventional, it will be sufiicient toindicate that it includes a fence post driving element 30 that ismounted for guided vertical movement in a guidehousing 31 carried by theframe 17. Upon release from the position shown in FIGURE 3, the element30 gravitates downwardly to drive a post positioned therebelow into theground and is thereafter returned to its elevated position for anotherpost driving operation by a mechanical drive 32 operated from aconventional tractor power take-off (not shown). After driving eachfence post in this manner, the carriage 1 is moved forwardly to theposition at which the next fence post 2 is to be driven. The centrallocation of the post driver 8 on the draft bar 12 and the space 22between the platforms 9 and 19 provide for free forward movement of thecarriage 4 to the next fence post driving position after each operationof the driver 7 to install a fence post. As described in applicationSerial No. 86,422, mentioned above, the mounting of the post driverhousing 31 on the frame 1'7 includes a bearing 33 that provides for itsrotation about an axis extending transversely of the draft bar 12,trunnions 34 that provide for its tilting movement about an axisparallel to the draft bar 12, and a slide support for the frame 17 onthe draft bar 12 so that the position of the driver 8 may be adjustedlaterally in the space 22 between the draft links 13. Separatedouble-acting reversible fluid-pressure motors 35 and 36 operaterespectively to tilt the driver housing 31 about the axes of the bearing33 and the trunnions 34, and a bell-crank linkage 37 operated by apivoted hand-lever 38 shifts the frame 17 and thereby the housing 31laterally on the draft bar 12.

As best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, a rectangular frame 49 furnishes asupport for the reels 24 and the frictional tensioning unit 27 of thisinvention on the platform 9. The frame 40 is comprised of spaced sidebars 41, a top bar 42, and a center bar 43 extending between and bracingthe side bars 41 at points between their upper and lower ends. The lowerends of the side bars 41 have outturned base members 44 that are weldedto the platform 9. The reels 24, preferably four in number as shown inFIG- URE 4, are mounted in vertically spaced pairs on the side bars 41in symmetrically and circumferentially spaced positions about the axisof the tensioning unit 27, which is supported on the frame center bar 43at a point centrally thereon. The reels 24 and unit 27 respectivelyrotate about horizontal axes that are parallel and extend in a directiontransversely of the path of movement of the carriage along a fence line.Each of the reels 24 in operation is adapted to support a coil of fencewire from which the strands of wire being strung along a fence line aredispensed during forward movement of the platform 9 by the tractor '3.For a purpose to be described such coils of fence wire are mounted onthe reels 24 so that adjacent pairs about the axis of the braking unit27 rotate in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows in responseto the strands of fence wire being pulled therefrom.

The strands of wire being dispensed are directed upwardly from each reel24 over guide sheaves 45 supported on the frame 40, the strands beingdispensed from the upper pair of reels 24 being respectively guided overthe pair of guide sheaves supported on the top bar 42 of the frame 49and the strands being dispensed from the lower pair of reels 24 beingrespectively guided over the sheaves 45 mounted on the side bars 41.From the sheaves 45, the strands of wire are guided over four verticallyspaced sheaves 46 that are mounted in vertically spaced positions on aframe member 47 carried by the platform 9 for rotation about a commonvertical axis. From the sheaves 46, the strands of wire travel oververtically spaced guide sheaves 48 (FIGURE 3) that are supported forrotation about vertically spaced horizontal axes on a supporting bar 49.The bar 49 has a plurality of vertically spaced openings 50 therein inwhich the guide sheaves 48 are mounted and which provide for adjustmentof their relative vertical positions. The sheaves 46 and 48 in operationsupport the strands of fence wire in vertically spaced positions andguide the stringing movement of such strands along parallel paths in acommon vertical plane. From the sheaves 48, the strands of fence wireextend rearwardly as indicated by the broken line 7 in FIGURE 1 to aposition where they are anchored to the fence posts 2 so that forwardmovement of the carriage 1 by the tractor 3 will result in the strandsbeing pulled from coils of fence wire on the reels 24 as the carriage 1is moved along the line of fence posts.

Each of the reels 24 has an identical construction and mounting on oneof the side bars 41 as best shown in FIGURE 6. With reference to FIGURE6, each reel 24 comprises a pair of end members 52 land 53 and a stem 54extending axially therebetween on which a coil of fence wire issupported. The stem 54 comprises a hollow pipe 55 that is securedcentrally of the end member 52 and extends outwardly therefrom and aplurality of coil supporting bars 56 secured to the end member 52 inaxially extending and circumferentially spaced positions about the pipe55. The end member 53 is a plate that is detachably connected to theouter end of the pipe 55 by a bolt 57 and has a circular disc 58 securedto the inner surface thereof for holding the outer ends of the bars 56against flexing movement toward the pipe 57. A mounting shaft 59 has oneend rigidly secured in the pipe 55 and its other end rotatably supportedin a bearing 60 that is secured by a mounting plate 61 to the side bar41. In operation, the stem 54 and end members 52 and 53' of each reel 24rotate in response to a strand of wire being withdrawn from a coilsupported on the stem 54 and the shaft 59 turns in the bearing housing60*. A sprocket wheel 62 is secured to each end member 52 by a hollowtubular connecting member 63 for rotation therewith. While each reel 24has an identical construction, the tubular connecting members 63 havedifferent axial lengths so that the sprocket wheels 62 on the differentreels 24 are spaced axially relative to each other as shown in FIGURE 5for a purpose to be described.

The tensioning unit 27, as best shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, comprises foursprocket wheels 65 that are rotatably supported by bearings 66 inaxially spaced positions for rotation on a shaft 67, there being aseparate sprocket wheel 65 for each of the dispensing reel sprocketwheels 62 for a purpose to be described. Each of the sprocket wheels 65has a braking surface 68 on one side thereof and a frictional brakelining 69 on the other side thereon. The brake linings 69 are annulardiscs of brake lining material that have :a cemented connection 70 to anannular disc 71 of Masonite or similar mounting material, which in turnhas a cemented connection 72 to the sprocket wheel 65. The sprocketwheels 65 are arranged on the shaft 67 in axially spaced positionsbetween a pair of frictional braking elements 73 and 74. The brakingelement 73 is a steel disc through which the shaft 67 extends and has awelded connection with the frame center bar 43- by which it is heldagainst rotation. The disc 73' provides a braking surface 75 that hasfrictional engagement with the surface 76 of the brake lining 69 on theadjacent sprocket wheel 65. The braking element 74 is a steel disc thathas a welded connection 77 with a bolt 78 on one end of the shaft 67which holds it against rotation relative to the shaft 67. The inner-faceof the disc 74 has a lining 79 of braking material that engages thesurface 68 on the outermost or adjacent sprocket wheel 65. The brakelining 79 is a disc of brake lining material that has a cementedconnection 80* to a disc 81 of Masonite or other mounting material,which in turn has a cemented connection 82 to the steel disc 74. Theother end of the shaft 67 extends through aligned openings 83 in thebraking element 73 and a pair of mounting lugs 84 and 85 that are weldedto the frame center bar 43 in positions depending therefrom, the brakingelement 73 having a welded connection 86 with the mounting lug 84. Abolt 87 (FIGURE 7) detachably received in an opening 88 extendingdiametrically of the shaft 67 engages a block 89 that is welded inposition between the lugs 84 to hold the shaft 67 against rotation, butpermits axial movement of the shaft 67 in the openings 83. A spring 90mounted concentrically on the outer end of the shaft 67 has one endbearing against the mounting lug 85 and its other end bearing against anut 91 threaded on the outer end of the shaft 67 as shown in FIGURE 7.The spring 90 provides a bias for moving the shaft 67 and the end disc74 thereon in a direction toward the braking element 73 to maintain thebraking sprocket wheels 65 engaged with each other and with the enddiscs 73 and 74 as shown in FIGURE 7. The biasing action of the spring90* may be adjusted by rotating the nut 91 and a handle 92 is welded tothe nut 91 to facilitate this adjustment.

It will be recalled that each of the tubular connecting members 63 onthe reels 24 have different axial lengths so that the sprocket wheels 62that rotate with the reels 24 are axially spaced relative to each otheras best shown in FIGURE 5. The axial spacing of the sprocket wheels 62in this respect corresponds to the axial spacing of the sprocket wheels65 of the braking unit 27 so that each reel sprocket wheel 62 lies in avertical plane containing one of the braking unit sprocket wheels 65.Sprocket chains 93 are trained over the sprocket wheels 62 and 65 thatlie in a common vertical plane and form a drive connection between eachreel 24 and one of the braking unit sprocket wheels 65. As the result ofthe driving connection provided by the sprocket chains 93, rotation ofeach reel 24- in response to a strand of wire being pulled from a coilof wire supported thereby imparts rotation to one of the braking unitsprocket wheels 65. Since the reels 24 rotate in opposite rotationaldirections as explained above, adjacent sprocket wheels 65 rotate inopposite rotational directions on the shaft 67. This rotation of thesprocket wheels 65 is subject to a retarding torque that is developed bythe brake lining surfaces on opposite sides of each sprocket wheel 65.This retarding torque is applied through the chains 93 to the reelsprocket wheels 62 which thus retard the rotation of the reels 24 andapply tension to each of the strands of wire being pulled therefrom.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the apparatus of thisinvention operates to string plural strands of fence wire under equaltension along a line of fence posts. Attention is particularly directedto the fact that the coils of fence wire are placed on the reels 24 sothat adjacent pairs thereof as well as adjacent ones of the tensioningunit braking discs or sprocket wheels 65 will rotate in oppositerotational directions in response to the strands of wire being pulledtherefrom during a stringing operation of the apparatus. After placingthe coils of fence wire on the reels 24 in this manner, the strands offence wire are strung over the guide sheaves 45, 46 and 48 and fastenedto one of the fence posts 2 as described above so that the strands willbe dispensed from the reels 24 when the carriage l is pulled by thetractor 3 along the line of fence posts 2. By reason of the retardingtorque developed by the tensioning unit 27 of this invention, thestrands of fence wire are strung under equal tension, which may beregulated by rotating the nut 91 to adjust the biasing action of thespring 90 and thereby the frictional braking action of the brake linings69 and 79, and thus in parallel positions equally spaced relative toeach other along the line of fence posts 2.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described itwill be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for stringing plural strands of fence wire under tensionalong a line of fence posts comprising the combination with a platformmovable along said fence line, and a plurality of rotatable fence wiredispensing reels mounted on said platform, there being one of said reelsfor each of said strands and each being adapted to support a coil offence wire from which one of said strands is dispensed when saidplatform is moved along said fence line, of a common braking unitcomprising a plurality of rotatable members mounted in axially spacedpositions for rotation about a common axis, there being one of saidmembers for each of said strands, a plurality of separate means forrotating said rotatable members respectively in response to dispensingmovement of said strands, and frictional braking means for resisting therotation of each of said rotatable members and operating through saidresponsive means for applying tension to each of said wire strands.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized by said separate meansoperating to rotate adjacent ones of said rotatable members in oppositerotational directions.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized by each of saidseparate means comprising a chain-belt and sprocket drive forming adriving connection between one of said reels and one of said rotatablemembers.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized by said reels beingrotatable about parallel axes respectively disposed in:circumferentially spaced positions about said common axis.

5. Apparatus for stringing plural strands of fence wire under tensionalong a line of fence posts comprising the combination with a platformmovable along said fence line, and a plurality-of rotatable fence wiredispensing reels mounted on said platform, there being one of said reelsfor each of said strands and each being adapted to support a coil offence wire from which one of said strands is dispensed when saidplatform is moved along said fence line, of a mechanism for placing eachof the strands being strung under equal tension comprising drivingsprocket wheels secured to said reels for rotation therewith in responseto dispensing movement of said fence wire strands therefrom, a pluralityof driven sprocket wheels mounted in axially spaced positions forrotation about a common axis, chain belts forming driving connectionsbetween said driving sprocket wheels and driven sprocket wheels, andfrictional braking means for retarding the rotation of said drivensprocket wheels to thereby apply a retarding torque to said reels and acorresponding tension to said strands.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 characterized by the provision of asingle means for adjusting the retarding action of said frictionalbraking means on each of said driven sprocket wheels.

7. In apparatus for stringing plural strands of fencewire along a lineof fence posts, a platform for movement along said fence line, a framemounted on said platform, a supporting shaft mounted for endwisemovement on said frame, a first frictional braking disc secured to saidframe and having an opening therein through which said shaft extends, asecond frictional braking disc secured to said shaft in a positionspaced from said first braking disc, a plurality of frictional brakingdiscs corresponding in number to the number of said strands and mountedfor independent rotation on said shaft in axially spaced positionsbetween said first and second braking discs, means resiliently biasingthe endwise movement of said shaft on said frame in a direction formoving said second disc toward said first disc to maintain adjacent onesof said plural discs in frictional engagement with each other and theend ones of said plural discs in frictional engagement respectively withsaid first and second discs, a plurality of rotatable fence wiredispensing reels mounted on said platform, there being one of said reelsfor each of said strands and each being adapted to support a coil offence wire from which one of said strands is dispensed when saidplatform is moved along said fence line, and means for applying aretarding torque to rotation of said reels in response to dispensingmovement or said strands comprising chain and sprocket drivesrespectively forming a driving connection between each of said reels andone of said plurality of braking discs.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 characterized by the provision ofmeans for adjusting the biasing action of said resilient biasing meanson said shaft to thereby adjust the retarding torque applied to saidreels and the tension on said strands.

9. In apparatus for stringing plural strands of fence wire along a lineof fence posts, a supporting frame, a shaft mounted for endwise movementon said frame, a first frictional braking disc secured to said frame andhaving an opening therein through which said shaft extends, a secondfrictional braking disc secured to said shaft in a position spaced fromsaid first braking disc, a plurality of frictional braking discscorresponding in number to the number of said strands and mounted forindependent rotation on said shaft in axially spaced positions betweensaid first and second braking discs, means resiliently biasing theendwise movement of said shaft on said frame in a direction for movingsaid second disc toward said first disc to maintain adjacent ones ofsaid plural discs in frictional engagement with each other and the endones of said plural discs in frictional engagement respectively withsaidfirst and second discs, a plurality of reels for supporting coils offence wire from which said strands of fence wire are dispensed in beingstrung along said fence line, and separate means for rotating saidfrictional discs respectively in response to dispensing movement of saidstrands from said reels.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 characterized by said last namedmeans operating to rotate adjacent ones of said plurality of frictiondiscs in opposite rotational directions.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 characterized by said reels beingsymmetrically disposed in circumferentially spaced positions about saidshaft.

12. Apparatus for stringing plural strands of fence wire under tensionalong a line of fence posts comprising the combination with a platformmovable along said fence line, and a plurality of rotatable fence wiredispensing reels mounted on said platform, there being one of said reelsfor each of said strands and each being adapted to support a coil offence wire from which one of said strands is dispensed when saidplatform is moved along said fence line, of a common braking unitcomprised of a plurality of separate means respectively responsive tothe dispensing operation of said strands for placing said strands underequal tension, each of the said separate means of said braking unitcomprising a rotatable member that is rotated in response to dispensingoperation of one of said strands and a frictional brake for retardingits rotation so that it operates toresist the dispensing operation ofsaid one strand and to thereby place it under tension.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. APPARATUS FOR STRINGING PLURAL STRANDS OF FENCE WIRE UNDER TENSIONALONG A LINE OF FENCE POSTS COMPRISING THE COMBINATION WITH A PLATFORMMOVABLE ALONG SAID FENCE LINE, AND A PLURALITY OF ROTATABLE FENCE WIREDISPENSING REELS MOUNTED ON SAID PLATFORM, THERE BEING ONE OF SAID REELSFOR EACH OF SAID STRANDS AND EACH BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A COIL OFFENCE WIRE FROM WHICH ONE OF SAID STRANDS IS DISPENSED WHEN SAIDPLATFORM IS MOVED ALONG SAID FENCE LINE, OF A COMMON BRAKING UNITCOMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ROTATABLE MEMBERS MOUNTED IN AXIALLY SPACEDPOSITIONS FOR ROTATION ABOUT A COMMON AXIS, THERE BEING ONE OF SAIDMEMBERS FOR EACH OF SAID STRANDS, A PLURALITY OF SEPARATE MEANS FORROTATING SAID ROTATABLE MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY IN RESPONSE TO DISPENSINGMOVEMENT OF SAID STRANDS, AND FRICTIONAL BRAKING MEANS FOR RESISTING THEROTATION OF EACH OF SAID ROTATABLE MEMBERS AND OPERATING THROUGH SAIDRESPONSIVE MEANS FOR APPLYING TENSION TO EACH OF SAID WIRE STRANDS.